Martin’s Journey to Super Fitness: From Sedentary to SAS-Level Strength
At 65 years old, Martin Braddock is proving that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. In the space of just five years, he has gone from living a sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle to taking on some of the toughest endurance challenges inspired by UK Special Forces, including The Special Forces Experience (TSFE) Fan Dance - a gruelling 24km trek across the Brecon Beacons inspired by the UK Special Forces selection process.
Today, Martin regularly competes in elite SAS-themed events. But his journey didn’t begin with feats of extreme endurance. It began with a simple recommendation from a neighbour.
A steady start at Holme Pierrepont Country Park
Around five years ago, Martin joined our gym. His early progress was steady rather than dramatic, a few workouts, a few classes, gradually building fitness and confidence.
But 2024 became the turning point. Martin calls it his “health and wellbeing year zero.” His dedication in the gym had begun to pay off. He looked different. He felt stronger. His mindset shifted. And with that shift came a taste for more.
That was fortunate, because his wife, Peta, had already signed him up for an additional TSFE event: the Special Forces-led Basecamp, a challenging bootcamp weekend held in the Shropshire hills.
The power of support, coaching and community
Martin is the first to acknowledge that his achievements haven’t happened alone. He credits the staff and instructors at our gym for helping him progress from a complete beginner to someone capable of completing extreme endurance events. In his own words:
“This is an excellent facility, but what makes it special are the people. Instructors like Graham Parrington, who’s 78 but still as strong as an ox. Tom Walton, Cam Munn’s and Lewis Atkinson’s functional core, core and lift classes have been so important in helping me build strength and resilience. Without these people, and some ex-staff members, who’ve supported me over the years such as John Lynch and Jamie Smith, there is no way I’d have been able to complete an event like the Fan Dance. Their encouragement and expertise helped me push past limits I never thought I could overcome.
“You’ve got to want to make a change. It’s not easy, and you need to be dedicated and determined, but the rewards both in terms of physical health and mental health are immense. I feel stronger, happier and healthier than I’ve ever been!”